Intro to Theatre 01 (S1 2011-12)

TS1101ETS1101E

INTRODUCTION

TO THEATRETO THEATRE

& DRAMA& DRAMA

AdministrationAdministration

• Structure (per week)h ( k )–Lecture: 1 hour (week 1 –13)

Tutorial: 1 hour (week 3 13)–Tutorial: 1 hour (week 3 –13)–Practical: 2 hours (week 2 –11)Practical: 2 hours (week 2 11)


Lectures (Sem1 11‐12):

Dr Robin Loon (Semiotics)

Mr. Nelson Chia (Theories of Theatre & Performance)


• Tutorials (Sem1 11‐12):–Dr Robin Loon

– Mr Nelson ChiaMr Nelson Chia

– Ms Nidya Shanthini Manokara

– Mr Matthew Yoxall

– Mr Miguel EscobarMr Miguel Escobar


• Practicals (Sem1 11‐12)–Dr Robin Loon

–Ms Nora SamosirMs Nora Samosir

–Ms Nidya Shanthini Manokara

–Ms Mia Chee

–Mr Miguel EscobarMr Miguel Escobar


Weekly Tutorials (begins 26 August 2010)y ( g g )

DW1 THU 1000‐1100 AS5/0202DW2 THU 1100‐1200 AS5/0202DW3 THU 1200‐1300 AS5/0202DW4 THU 1300‐1400 AS5/0202DW5 THU 1400‐1500 AS5/0202DW6 THU 1500 1600 AS5/0202DW6 THU 1500‐1600 AS5/0202DW7 FRI 0900‐1000 AS5/0205DW8 FRI 1000‐1100 AS5/0205DW9 FRI 1100‐1200 AS5/0205

Remember to sign up via CORS from 12th August 2010

Mannual registration for tutorials 18/8 & 19/8 (See IVLE for details)(See IVLE for details)


• Weekly 2‐hour practical sessions (starting 16 Aug 2010)g )

Monday 1200‐1400; 1400‐1600; 1600‐1800

T d 1000 1200 1200 1400 1400 1600 1600Tuesday 1000‐1200; 1200‐1400; 1400‐1600; 1600‐1800

Wednesday 1000‐1200; 1200‐1400; 1400‐1600; 1600‐1800

PLEASE SIGN UP FOR YOUR PRACTICALS VIA IVLE

FROM 11Aug 1000 ‐ 15 Aug 2359g g

AdministrationAdministration• Prescribed Text:The Field of Drama: how the signs ofThe Field of Drama: how the signs of

drama create meaning on stage and screen,

B M i E liBy Martin Esslin

This te t is idel a ailable fromThis text is widely available from students who have taken the course, it is also available at the ,NUS Central Library and library@esplanade. Copies may be available at the NUS Co Opbe available at the NUS Co‐Op

WHY??WHY??

• Why study Theatre & Drama?I it l f A t ? A ti ?– Is it only for Actors? Acting?

–What use is Theatre and Drama? Is it just jentertainment and leisure? Is it

Does it have any impact to my day to day–Does it have any impact to my day‐to‐day living? My job?

–What if I don’t want to go into the arts?

WHY?WHY?

• The fact is that in modern living: we perform all the times because of the many roles we yplay – the ability to play the roles competently & the ability to understand roles will help us& the ability to understand roles will help us understand the world around us and attain our goalsour goals

WHY??WHY??

• Why study Semiotics?

Wh t th FCUK i SEMIOTICS?• What the FCUK is SEMIOTICS?– the science of signsthe science of signs

–What is a sign? What use is that? Is it only l i l lid i h h ?exclusively valid in the theatre?

SEMIOTICS & EVERYDAYSEMIOTICS & EVERYDAY

• Flagging a bus

• What happens when you read the signs wrongly?wrongly?

SEMIOTICS & EVERYDAYSEMIOTICS & EVERYDAY

Why is semiotics usefulWhy is semiotics useful

• Just like how we recognize the world around us: the meaning of items; their gfunction/purpose so we can understand our world the efficacious deployment andworld, the efficacious deployment and apprehension of signs help us understand the world on stage so we can make meaning andworld on stage – so we can make meaning and sense of what’s going on?

Why is semiotics usefulWhy is semiotics useful

• Semiotics gives us the tools to assess a performance: gives us specific areas to look at p g pso we can analyse a performance to see how effective it waseffective it was

• Semiotics also helps us recognise our b f l hsubjective preferences and apply that

subjectivity to our reading of the performance

Why is semiotics useful?Why is semiotics useful?

• If we can understand and determine how signs are being put together to achieve a g g p gspecific effect, the better we can be at manipulated signs in our lives to help usmanipulated signs in our lives to help us through

f h ff f h• If we can assess the efficacy of how signs are being manipulated, the better we are at assessing the “competition”

Semiotics to the rescueSemiotics to the rescue

• Time

• SpaceSpace

• System

• Context (environment)

• EffectEffect

What is semiotics?What is semiotics?

h d l• “the science of signs”

• decode / decoding

Methodologydecode / decoding

• encode / encoding

Q i b dd dQuestions to be addressed:-• How did the field of semiotics arise?• How did the field of semiotics arise?• How do we classify signs?• What major types of signs and sign systems are• What major types of signs and sign systems are

there?

The Semiotics of PerformanceThe Semiotics of Performance

• actordi• audience

• mise en scene• mise‐en‐scene

Questions to be addressed:‐Questions to be addressed:‐

Wh di i d d f f k• What conditions are needed for performance to take place?Wh h diff f f ?• What are the different types of performance space?

• What are the different ways of conceptualising f i ?performance time?

• What is unique about the actor as a sign system?• What is the relationship between the actor and the inanimate objects on stage?


H d f diff f th t f• How does performance differ from other art forms like painting, pottery, and music?

• What is the relationship between an actor and the• What is the relationship between an actor and the role he plays?

• Does an actor’s public or private persona introduceDoes an actor s public or private persona introduce extraneous signs?

• What are the processes at work when a spectator views a performance?

• How has the concept of an audience changed over th l f th t hi t ?the annals of theatre history?


• How does a spectator make sense of what he sees?

• How does a spectator restructure what he sees into something meaningful for himself?

• What are the various functions of sets, props, lights,What are the various functions of sets, props, lights, sound and costumes (the contextual elements of the mise‐en‐scene)?se e sce e)

• How have these elements of the mise‐en‐scene changed over time?changed over time?

Is Theatre & Drama all about Semiotics only?

• Theories of theatre & performance

Th t & P f h• Theatre & Performance have theories?theories?–Isn’t theatre just acting?–Acting also need theories?

Theories of Theatre & PerformanceTheories of Theatre & Performance

• Semiotics is about operating principles and reading modelsg

• Theories of Theatre & Performance are about how practitioners adapt those principles forhow practitioners adapt those principles for their purposes– These practitioners created movements that have influenced theatre today

Theories of Theatre & PerformanceTheories of Theatre & Performance

• Naturalism

• Epic TheatreEpic Theatre

• Poor Theatre & Theatre of Cruelty

• Environmental Theatre

• Feminist TheatreFeminist Theatre

~ THE END ~~ THE END ~

Intro to Theatre 01 (S1 2011-12)

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